FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: Glass half-full or glass half-empty? I’m referring to Winnipeg’s once-potent power play, which really faded down the stretch of the regular season and hasn’t shown many signs of life so far in the playoffs.
Just one goal on six chances for a conversion rate of 16.7 per cent, which has them ranked 11th of the 16 teams still playing hockey.
The fact they’ve managed to win both games in spite of that is a tribute to their strong five-on-five play, especially when you consider the Blues have scored on three of their seven opportunities (42.9 per cent).
At some point, that disparity is going to catch up with you.
It’s incredible to me that Kyle Connor scored 41 goals in the regular season and has already lit the lamp twice in two playoff games, but his last power play tally came way back on Dec. 23. That’s a stretch of 51 games in which all of his goals — 22 in that span — have been at even strength.
You could say he’s long overdue, I suppose. Obviously getting Vilardi back into the lineup will help the cause, but some progress in the here and now would also be a welcome development.
The Jets switched a few things up during Wednesday’s practice when it came to the top power play unit, with Connor, Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti all in different spots on the ice during the offensive zone setup. Only Alex Iafallo and Josh Morrissey remained in their usual positions. We’ll see whether that can make a difference.
The Jets should feel comfortable playing inside Enterprise Center, having won two of their league-leading 26 road games there this past season. But this should be a desperate, fired-up Blues team that will be throwing everything at them — pucks, bodies, you name it — so finding a way to settle in and not get overwhelmed by the occasion will be critical.
The Jets have already passed a few playoff tests this spring and this represents another one. When you have an opponent on the ropes, as Winnipeg does with a 2-0 lead, you’d best find a way to keep them there.
KEN SAYS: The big question for me as the series shifts venues surrounds what Montgomery has up his sleeve in terms of the matchup game now that he has the last change.
The Jets’ top line has been dominant so far, delivering five goals (with only one of those coming on the man advantage), so does that mean Montgomery gives captain Brayden Schenn and his line the responsibility of trying to be a bit more physical on guys like Scheifele and Connor?
Montgomery spoke openly on Wednesday about the need to be “harder” on Scheifele and Connor and nobody has been harder on the Jets in this series than Schenn, who leads all players with 14 hits. Doing that would also free up Robert Thomas to produce a bit more offence, since he’s been limited to just one power-play goal so far.
Winnipeg Jets’ Luke Schenn checks St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Kyrou during the first period on Monday’s playoff game. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press)
Thomas has gone up against the opposition’s top offensive players for a good chunk of the season, but Arniel is ready for whatever matchups are presented during the course of the game.
For the Jets, there have been plenty of opportunities generated by the second line of Vladislav Namestnikov, Cole Perfetti and Nino Niederreiter, but the trio has yet to combine for a goal through two games — though it’s worth noting it was Perfetti who set up Connor for the game-winner early in the third period of Game 2 on a blended shift.
Niederreiter has been involved all over the ice and getting to the blue paint, while Namestnikov has been mixing it up as well.
Depth scoring has been a strength for the Jets all season and it will need to continue for Winnipeg to advance to the second round.
Another thing to watch is how Blues winger Jordan Kyrou responds in Game 3 after getting rocked by Jets defenceman Logan Stanley in Game 2. Kyrou deserves immense credit for getting up and returning to the game, but he wasn’t nearly as effective or dangerous after the glass-rattling hit.
Kyrou was the Blues’ best player in Game 1 and they can’t afford him to be anything but a play driver to get back into this series.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
- Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Tanev-Lowry-Appleton
- Gustafsson-Barron-Anderson-Dolan
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Stanley-Schenn
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: G Driedger, D Miller, D Fleury, D Heinola, C Kupari, C Toninato
INJURED: RW Vilardi (upper body), LW Ehlers (lower body)
ST. LOUIS BLUES
FORWARDS:
- Snuggerud-Thomas-Buchnevich
- Neighbours-Schenn-Kyrou
- Texier-Sundqvist-Bolduc
- Toropchenko-Faksa-Walker
DEFENCE:
- Fowler-Parayko
- Broberg-Faulk
- Suter-Leddy
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Suter, D Kessel, F Joseph
INJURED: D Krug (ankle), LW Holloway (lower body)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets head coach Scott Arniel on what he’s expecting from the matchup game:
“We had the last change at home, so obviously things will probably change here tonight. You’ve got to win that zone-time advantage.
“For me, that’s what has kind of happened. If we make the top players play in their end of the rink, hopefully they’re tired and have to go off the ice and change before they get to go and use their skillset (in the offensive zone).
“We’ve been on the right side of that so far, but it’s a different building now. We come in here and Monty has the last change. If guys are going to get out against their top people, they’ve got to handle it accordingly.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken is on the scene in St. Louis and will handle the game column, along with an early story on Jets forward Morgan Barron, while Mike will provide a secondary analysis piece that will go up on Friday morning.
You can find the stories in the print edition and on our website.
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